Want to escape Dublin for a day without hiring a car?
Get on the DART and stay on it until it stops.
The last stop is Howth: a fishing village on a rocky headland at the northern edge of Dublin Bay, with cliff walks, a working harbour, seals, seafood, and views back to the city that make you forget it’s half an hour away. It’s in Joyce’s Ulysses. It’s on every local’s list. And it costs you a train fare.
Getting to Howth
- DART: take the northbound DART to Howth, the end of the line. It’s around 30 minutes from the city centre stations (Pearse, Tara Street, Connolly). Make sure you’re on a Howth train, not one going to Malahide; they split at Howth Junction.
- Bus: Dublin Bus routes 31 and 31A serve Howth village. Slower, but they go up to the Summit.
- Driving: possible, but parking in the village and at the Summit is hard on sunny weekends. Locals arrive early. Visitors arrive at noon and circle.
Use a Leap card for the cheapest fare. More on that in our guide to getting around Dublin.
The Howth Cliff Walk: which loop?
There isn’t one Howth cliff walk. There are four waymarked loops, and all of them start and finish at Howth DART station, which is why it’s the perfect day trip without a car.
- Cliff Path Loop (green arrows): 7.8km, about 2 hours, moderate. The classic route along the cliffs and back. If you only do one, do this.
- Tramline Loop (blue arrows): about 7km and 2 hours. Up to the Summit along the cliffs and back down along the route of the old tramline.
- Black Linn Loop (red arrows): about 8km and 2.5 hours. Takes in the Summit and goes around the Ben of Howth.
- Bog of Frogs Loop (purple arrows): the longest, at about 12km and 3+ hours. Goes beyond the Baily Lighthouse to Red Rock and back round the Ben of Howth.
The walks are free and open all year with no booking. There are no facilities on the cliff path, so use the toilets and cafés in the village first.
Cliff walk tips
- Wear proper shoes. Parts are rough and can be muddy. The cliff edges are real cliff edges.
- Bring a windproof layer, even in summer. The wind on Howth Head has opinions.
- Look out to sea. You’ll see Lambay Island and Ireland’s Eye, and if you’re lucky, seals, gannets and the odd porpoise.
What to see in Howth
The harbour and the seals
Howth is still a working fishing harbour. Walk out along the West Pier past the fish shops and trawlers, and you’ll usually find grey seals hanging around waiting for scraps from the fishmongers. Don’t feed them yourself. They know where the real fish are.
The Baily Lighthouse
Down on the south-eastern tip of the head, you’ll see it from the cliff path. It’s not open to the public, but it’s one of the great Dublin views.
Ireland’s Eye
The small rocky island just off the harbour, with a ruined early church and a lot of seabirds. In season, boats run from the harbour, weather permitting, and you can spend a few hours out there. Check the boat times on the day.
Howth Castle and the demesne
Home to the St Lawrence family for centuries, a short walk from the station. The castle is privately owned, so check what’s open before you plan your day around it.
The National Transport Museum
A small, volunteer-run collection of old buses, trams and fire engines in the castle grounds. A good one if you’ve children who’ve had enough of cliffs. Opening days are limited, so check before you go.
Eating in Howth
You come to Howth for seafood. There are proper restaurants along the harbour front, and fish and chips you can eat on the pier with the gulls supervising. On a sunny weekend everywhere is busy, so book a table if you want a sit-down lunch, or eat early.
A simple Howth day
- DART out in the morning.
- Coffee in the village, then the Cliff Path Loop (2 hours).
- Lunch on the harbour.
- Walk the pier to see the seals, or take a boat to Ireland’s Eye if they’re running.
- DART back to town for the evening.
Prefer an organised tour?
Several companies run half-day trips to Howth from the city centre, often combined with Malahide Castle. They’re handy if you’re short on time. For more ideas, see our guide to day trips from Dublin.
Howth FAQs
How do I get to Howth from Dublin?
Take the DART northbound to Howth, the end of the line, around 30 minutes from the city centre.
How long is the Howth Cliff Walk?
The classic Cliff Path Loop is 7.8km and takes about 2 hours. The longest loop is about 12km.
Is the Howth Cliff Walk difficult?
It’s graded moderate. There’s some climbing and rough ground, but anyone reasonably fit can do the main loop in good shoes.
Can I see seals in Howth?
Usually, yes, around the West Pier near the fish shops.
Walk details from Sport Ireland and Visit Dublin trail listings, checked November 2026.
More ideas in our guide to things to do in Dublin.